Children encounter design around the clock: Whether it is the bed in which they sleep, the pencil they use for homework or the toy they play with in their free time. In most cases, they are not aware of the fact that every product they use in their day-to-day-life, features a very special design.

In order to acquaint children with the topic of design, the red dot design museum invites eight- to ten-years-old (first and second class students) to join two workshops of a special kind on Saturday, 16 March 2013: “Design Gymnastics” is on the agenda. The workshops of three hours each will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. under the title “Design Gymnastics: Learn the basics of design with open eyes”. They aim at fostering children’s creative talent and curiosity about their environment as well as equipping them with the basic principles of design.

To make good design experiencable – that is the purpose of the red dot design museum, as touching and testing most of the objects is particularly allowed. While visiting the museum, the children also have to become creative and are invited to get to know the exciting world of design by introducing the basics of design to them through a special technique of observation.

The playful exercises focus on the sixth sense, as it is all about perception and the power of imagination which are of particular importance in the creative design process. Especially children have an outstanding apprehension and perceive outer impressions in a completely genuine manner. This allows them for seeing things in a very special way.

The workshops were developed together with the renowned Japanese architect and designer Masayo Ave, who lives in Berlin. They aim at nurturing exactly these skills with playful exercises. The children will do a journey of discovery together and explore how much design the natural world offers them. Thereby, they train their perception by “stretching” their imagination and learn to really see the things they look at.

At the end of the workshop, all discoveries of the participants will be collected and arranged as an overall picture. Their results – and thus their creative skills – will be documented in a special exhibition which will be presented in the red dot design museum.

As the group size allows for a maximum of 10 children, the red dot design museum kindly asks for previous registration by phone on +49 (0)201-301040 or via e-mail to museum(at)red-dot.de. The cost sharing is 10 euros.

The workshop “Design Gymnastics: Learn the basics of design with open eyes” is co-financed in the course of the EU project PROUD (People Researchers Organisations Using Design for co-creation and innovation).

About PROUD:PROUD (People Researchers Organisations Using Design for co-creation and innovation) is a European project with the objective to make Europe a better place by co-designing for all and by all. PROUD brings designers together with public organisations, businesses and user communities to experience the added value of design thinking and design, while working on innovative solutions for today’s real world problems. PROUD helps and supports designers to have the right facilities, knowledge and expertise to play this key role in innovating, improving and consolidating Europe.